The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-01
Polly Percy's Prize.
BY BERTHA H. BURNHAM.

"If were not trying to be a Chris
tian," soliloquized little Miss Polly
Percy. 81 could try for that prize. Oh
dear! most wish I WASN'T N-no;
T don't mean that, not exactly, but
well, it would be lovely if I could get
that prize. [ guess-yes, I think I
will try for it. Any way, don't papa
and mamma expect me to be the very
best scholar? If they were at home,
they'd tell me to, I know, ard Of
course I ought to obey. And that
watch is the loveliest thing! I've
wanted one for ages, and now-I de-
clare l most wish that there wasn't
any Kitty Lowe; for then could try
for that pr Why! I didn't see you
before, grandma"
"You do not use your eyes to as good
advantage as I do my ears" smiled
Mrs. Percy. "But what is the trouble,
my dear? Perhaps can tell you, what
to do, as mother is not here to advise.
Well, Polly?"
''It's prize," began Polly, eagerly.
''Mr. Roberts, one of the committee,
has offered it, and he said-it's the
very dearest little watch, grandma
he said that if there were two best
scholars the rest of the term, he would
divide the money that the watch is
worth between them, and ii there was
only one best scholar, he would give
her either the money or the watch.
I'd take the watch, grandma
wouldn't you?" -. :.
II see no reason why you should not
try to win the watch, darling,n said
grandma; "that is, provided you are
honest in your endeavors." : 1854
II didn't tell you the reason" ex-
planned Polly. "I-you see, Kitty and
I are both best scholars; she is No. l
one week, and Pm No. l the next.
But she's dreadfully poor, grandma,
and so lend her my books, and we
study together,-and-you see-if-we
study together any more, we shall
both have the prize,-and don't want
fifteen dollars, want the watch, h,-and
it will be selfish if I don't study with
her, and" .....-
Grandma smiled sympathetically as
Polly paused. -.
"You know what you ought to do,
Polly" she said now tell me what
you a0iU do" .....-.
"I don't know" Polly confessed,
shaking her head mournfnlly. II
don't want to be selfish, for it is hor-
rid !; and besides, it doesn't please Je-
sus, and I do want to please him.
But o grandma! you know how much
I want that watch! It's any quantity
prettier than Caddy Richardson's eyer
thought of being. Grandma, don't
you suppose our Lord was ever selfish
-just,the least bit. you know-wheif
he was a little boy?"
"'Even Christ pleased not him
self,'" quoted Mrs. Percy softly.
WELL" sighed Polly, after a long 81
lence,-"well, rather guess, grand
ma, that shall try to be willing for
Kitty to win the prize. I know she
will if I don't, because the other girls
don't care about having good lessons
and 1 wish you'd pray that may be
willing that she should have the whole
prize, instead of only half" -
''That's my brave girl" said grand
ma, approvingly.
Ever so many weeks after, Mr.. Rob-
erts handed scarlet-cheeked Kitty
three bright gold eagles as the reward
for her patient study. Then Miss Kid
der, the teacher, said: "Polly Percy
deserves honorable mention; had it
not been for an unlucky spelling-les-
son, in which she missed one word,
she would be entitled to half the
prize"
And Kitty, her arms thrown about
Polly's neck. whispered, "You are the
loveliest girl! I know you missed 'el-
ocution' on purpose that day, and 1
wish you hadn't only now can buy
lots of medicine for mamma, and
shoes for Baby Bob"
After all. Grandma's praise was
best: "Darling, yours is the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Je-
sus.'u